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purr

[ pur ]
/ pɜr /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR purr

verb (used without object)

to utter a low, continuous, murmuring sound expressive of contentment or pleasure, as a cat does.
(of things) to make a sound suggestive of the purring of a cat: The new motor of the car purred.

verb (used with object)

to express by or as if by purring.

noun

the low, vibrating sound made by a cat by the contracting of the laryngeal muscles and the diaphragm as it breathes.
a sound resembling this.
the act of purring.

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Also Archaic, pur .

Origin of purr

First recorded in 1595–1605; imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM purr

purr·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH purr

per, purr

Words nearby purr

purpura simplex, purpure, purpuric, purpurin, purpurinuria, purr, purree, purse, purse crab, pursed lips breathing, purse-proud
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to purr

sound, sing, murmur, hum

Example sentences from the Web for purr

British Dictionary definitions for purr

purr
/ (pɜː) /

verb

(intr) (esp of cats) to make a low vibrant sound, usually considered as expressing pleasure, etc
(tr) to express (pleasure, etc) by this sound

noun

a purring sound

Word Origin for purr

C17: of imitative origin; compare French ronronner to purr, German schnurren, Dutch snorren
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012